David Savastano, Ink World Editor09.20.10
LCR Hallcrest, a specialist in thermographics, or temperature sensitive, color changing graphic technology, is making strong headway in the field of battery testing, utilizing printed electronics to produce its testers.
The First Household Battery Tester, LCR Hallcrest’s newest development, uses thermochromic leuco dyes in the capacity testing of batteries. The lightweight flexible plastic electrical circuit is printed with conductive ink that measures battery capacity; it is integrated with a thermochromic display that “lights up” to indicate battery power, which is displayed as a color change once the battery terminals are contacted by the strip.
The First Household Battery Tester is designed to test the most prevalent 1.5V and 9V batteries frequently used and commonly found in the home. It will provide years of service, and can be stored in a drawer or toolbox.
As a pioneer with 40 years of experience in thermochromics, LCR Hallcrest is a logical choice for developing this technology, as the company was involved in producing the earlier battery testers. LCR Hallcrest also designs and produces the Feverscan Forehead thermometers, which are used to monitor a patient’s temperature during surgery and in the immediate recovery period. Feverscan Forehead thermometers are currently used in millions of surgeries annually.
LCR Hallcrest is also known for its Thermax irreversible labels, which trigger at a pre-set temperature, creating a permanent record within the supply chain that temperature has been exceeded. LCR Hallcrest’s Thermochromic color changing graphic materials are used in consumer products to communicate proper usage or storage conditions. Meanwhile, LCR Hallcrest’s Thermographics division markets cutting edge promotional and premium items that use thermal color change interactively to engage their audience and increase message awareness.
“The Hallcrest name is synonymous with this effort, and has been at the forefront of the innovation, development and manufacturing of trend-setting products such as whimsical novelties like the mood ring of the 1970s, consumer products such as the battery tester, to medical diagnostic thermometers currently used in millions of surgeries annually,” said John Romano, director of sales and marketing at LCR Hallcrest.
The First Household Battery Tester is an ideal opportunity to combine thermochromics and printed electronics, and the expertise that LCR Hallcrest brings to the thermographics field is very much on display throughout the process.
“LCR Hallcrest is the largest manufacturer of color changing materials, including liquid crystal, leuco dyes and photochromic ink products, both reversible and non-reversible, offering not only an extensive portfolio of standard products but custom solutions and a consultative approach to solving communication problems,” Mr. Romano noted. “Our new Household Battery Tester represents the first commercial release of a device that is a completely printed conductive circuit with a thermographic display.”
The ability to work closely with customers is a hallmark of LCR Hallcrest.
“We routinely cooperate in the development of advanced printing techniques/products during the application of our products,” Mr. Romano said. “We recently created a Hybrid Solvent Liquid Crystal Ink for high speed gravure presses in reaction to a customer’s need for a touch sensitive color change application; that is, the ink changes color when touched on the consumer package.”
Overall, Mr. Romano sees tremendous possibilities for printed electronics.
“We believe the potential is endless and in its infancy,” Mr. Romano said. “The combination of these two technologies creates an interactive package, label or graphic communication device that has the ability to engage the audience or perform a diagnostic test at a low cost. Thermochromic inks respond to temperature and create an interactive element to printing. Combine this with a printed electronic circuit and you now have the ability to print a smart functional device that can display messages, perform diagnostic tests or simply entertain your audience.”